The sales funnel is a staple of business strategy. It is a systematic way to track potential customers as they move through stages of engagement, from initial contact to loyal repeat client. For years, I taught this method to my Internet marketing clients, helping them convert prospects into supporters.

When I started working with nonprofits, I adapted the tool again. Instead of tracking customers, we tracked donors through a Donor Funnel, applying business discipline to mission-driven work. Regardless of the industry, relationships require tracking, nurturing, and intentional follow-up.

Now, as I write Arlinda’s biography, I’ve adapted the funnel once more. This time, I call it an Ask Funnel.

Writing this book has required me to ask for a lot of help. I’ve reached out to interview prospects who knew Arlinda. I’ve contacted beta readers, editors, and sensitivity readers. I’m querying literary agents and researching small presses open to direct submissions. Each of these relationships requires tracking, timing, and follow-up. Without a system, I’d lose track of whom I contacted, when, and what response I received.

The Ask Funnel is intentionally simple. It is a basic spreadsheet with columns tracking the contact’s name, business affiliation, contact information (phone/email), request type, date of most recent contact, a calculated follow-up date, and notes. I can filter by ask type to isolate all of my agent queries or all of my beta reader requests, for example. I can sort by name or follow-up date to see who needs attention next.

It’s basic, but that’s all I need right now. If it becomes unwieldy, or if I need to track multiple request types from the same contact, I might convert it to a database. But for now, this spreadsheet does exactly what I need it to do. It keeps me organized, accountable, and moving forward.

The beauty of the funnel concept is its adaptability. Whether I'm tracking sales, donors, or the dozens of people whose expertise and generosity I need to complete a book project, the principle is the same. I need a system that helps me be intentional, respectful, and persistent.